Kodak Medalist II

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

I was given a Kodak Medalist II camera to "figure out if it works and if it is worth anything." The camera looks good though it could use a good cleaning. I am wondering if anyone knows the approximate real (not eBay) value, if it is possible to test the shutter without any 620 film, and if anyone still repairs these things.

Thanks for your help,
Tommy

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

OK, found someone for repair. Apug search, correctly applied, can be a wonderful thing.

spoolman · Nov 22, 2009

Just for your info, photography on bald mountain will repair just about any vintage camera made and he specializes in converting medalist cameras to take 120 film if you don't want to deal with the hassle of re-spooling 120 film.I can't remember his email address off hand but if you google photography on bald mountain it should give it.I've used him for a number of repairs,modifications and fabrications and his work is top notch and the prices are reasonable.

Hope this helps.

Doug

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

I found a page to check the date of the camera via the ektar lens code. It was made in 1946. I also did some poking and found that apparently a perfectly working model is worth upwards of 500.00. A CLA costs around 100-150.00. Non functioning (I think the shutter is stuck on this one) is worth about 150.00 - 200.00. Does this seem correct to any of you?

Rolleiflexible · Nov 22, 2009

By coincidence I just got my Medalist II
back today from Ken Ruth (Photography
on Bald Mountain) -- Ken cleaned and
adjusted the rangefinder and the shutter,
and converted the camera to 120 film.
The work is superior and the viewfinder
and rangefinder look like they're from a
new camera. Ken is the best.

http://www.baldmtn.com/Convert.htm

The lens is one of the best Kodak ever made
-- a Heliar design that does amazing things
to light on film. Here's a link to the manual:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak/kodak_medalist_ii/kodak_medalist_ii.htm

df cardwell · Nov 22, 2009

The Medalist a wonderful gadget !

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 22, 2009

The lens is fantastic. I've adapted one from a camera that had been stripped for parts for use with 35mm, but if you've got a basically functional Medalist II (the stuck shutter is usually an easy fix and is fairly common with any camera of this vintage that hasn't had regular maintenance), I think it would be worth converting to 120 or respooling 620, if you've got spools.

Toffle · Nov 22, 2009

Rolleiflexible said:
By coincidence I just got my Medalist II
back today from Ken Ruth (Photography
on Bald Mountain)
http://www.baldmtn.com/Convert.htm

I was playing with one of these the other day. (Medalist I, I believe) About the weight of a cinder block, and twice as lovely... Seriously, it's a beautifully designed camera. Sadly, it was not for sale.

Now, why am I humming Mussorgski?

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

I am debating on whether to sell this one as is or to send it off after Christmas and have it repaired. Want to buy mine Toffle?

matt miller · Nov 22, 2009

photomem said:
I found a page to check the date of the camera via the ektar lens code. It was made in 1946. I also did some poking and found that apparently a perfectly working model is worth upwards of 500.00. A CLA costs around 100-150.00. Non functioning (I think the shutter is stuck on this one) is worth about 150.00 - 200.00. Does this seem correct to any of you?

Sounds a bit too high to me. It will be worth around $500 if it's in excellent condition AND converted to 120 use. If it's still 620 then I doubt it will go that high. Maybe $350 or so.

I've bought and sold a couple of them. One of the best lenses I've ever used. Quirky heavy camera though.

goldenimage · Nov 22, 2009

I had been looking at the medalist II for a couple of years trying to find one affordable (to me at least) the ones that are in good condition fetch pretty high dollars, I finally found one off another forum that looked very nice and reasonably priced, I sold off one of my rolleis to get it, should be getting it tomorrow, I have another rollei so i dont feel too guilty. The ektar line of lenses are great, i have the 105mm up to the 14 in commercial, I think the one on the medalist is the same design as the 105 or at least i hope it is because the 105 is awsome. I think it would be worth getting a cla and shooting it, you wont be disappointed.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 22, 2009

The 100/3.5 Medalist Ektar and the 105/3.7 Ektar that mainly appeared on 2x3" Graphics are coated Heliar types. Most of the other Ektar lenses of that era are Tessar types.

KenR · Nov 22, 2009

I bought a non-functional Medalist for $75.00 a couple of years ago and had it repaired by Precision Camera Repair in Illinois for $250.00 (no conversion to 120.) So the quote of $350.00 for a cleaned functional, non-converted camera sounds about right.

Anscojohn · Nov 22, 2009

What I have always wondered is what kind of glue the engineers in Rochester sniffed during the design phase? Why design a professiona camera, then have it take an amateur film spool?

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 22, 2009

Anscojohn said:
What I have always wondered is what kind of glue the engineers in Rochester sniffed during the design phase? Why design a professiona camera, then have it take an amateur film spool?

They were sniffing profits on film sales, I think, particularly since the cameras were sold to the military as well as the public, and they could only take Kodak rollfilm, though there was also a sheet film adapter for the Medalist.

Steve Smith · Nov 22, 2009

David A. Goldfarb said:
They were sniffing profits on film sales, I think, particularly since the cameras were sold to the military as well as the public, and they could only take Kodak rollfilm, though there was also a sheet film adapter for the Medalist.

Didn't all the other film manufacturers get in on the act though and produce their own 620 film ruining Kodak's game of monopoly?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ilford-B-W-62...9_W0QQitemZ270470779070QQihZ017QQcmdZViewItem

Steve.

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

I think I have decided what to do. I am going to list it on the APUG classifieds for 100.00 plus Paypal and Shipping. If it doesn't sell by the time Christmas is over, then I will send it off to be repaired. I would just save it, but part of my going through these old cameras is that I am raising money for Christmas for the kids and Darkroom stuff, if there is a surplus.

Edit to add:

I will also give it a thorough cleaning first.. Q-Tips ahoy!

Toffle · Nov 22, 2009

photomem said:
I am debating on whether to sell this one as is or to send it off after Christmas and have it repaired. Want to buy mine Toffle?

Ahh... you have found my weakness. (unfortunately, so has my wife... :rolleyes: )

Soooo tempting...

gmikol · Nov 22, 2009

<...gets ready to arm-wrestle Toffle...>

I don't think you'll have any trouble selling this before Christmas.

--Greg

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

maybe i should up the price... anyone want to bid?

Sorry, was typing with one hand. (Save your jokes, I was agitating film) I called the old man it belonged to and he said he would like me to list it for 150.00 and start from there. So, I will clean it up and photograph it tonight and it will go up sometime tonight and lets see what happens.

By the way, I used the manual cock and got the shutter to fire once. I cannot replicate it, though I think I might have done something accidentally.

Also, I have a Kodak Duaflex too, it works perfectly and is really clean with the case, so I will list it for 40.00 as well.

photomem · Nov 22, 2009

Ok, so the ad is posted. I have calculated Paypal, USPS fees, and everything and the total with 150.00 would be 170.00. Find it in the classified section, and lets see what happens

gmikol · Nov 22, 2009

Sorry...$100 is about my limit for a non-working one. Good luck selling it, I don't doubt that someone wants it. I don't need another Medalist *that* bad.

--Greg

Rolleiflexible · Nov 22, 2009

There are people who will buy the
camera to cannibalize it for the lens.

removed account4 · Nov 22, 2009

the conversion ain't cheap
but it is worth every penny!

Rolleiflexible · Nov 23, 2009

jnanian said:
the conversion ain't cheap
but it is worth every penny!

Well, it depends on how you want to convert it.
I just had Ken do a feed-side only conversion to
my Medalist -- I don't mind using a 620 take-up
spool, I just don't want to have to respool 120
to load it. Ken charges $95 for a feedside-only
conversion -- the full deal is something over $300.

I am happy with the result, and astonished at how
much better the viewfinder and rangefinder work
after Ken cleaned them.

Kodak Medalist II

photomem

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spoolman

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